Doubts

Area One contained not only the Hyuga District, but also many members of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans.

Apart from a shared compound where they gathered, most members of the three clans lived among Konoha's civilians. It had been that way since the village was founded.

After listening to Ao's explanation, Fugaku had a rough understanding of Area One. It was a relatively quiet area, especially with the Yamanaka clan there. Most of its ninja specialized in sensing, so any spy activity would be easy to detect.

"Spies from the other four great nations usually avoid this place. Every major nation has a capable intelligence network," Ao said. "Only spies from less-informed Small Nations see how remote it is, with all these forests, and dive right in.

"We caught a group of foreign spies who infiltrated the area a few days ago. The moment they made a move, Yamanaka ninja sensed them.

"The other areas are much the same. The major clans live together or among civilians around Konoha's outskirts, while the center is mostly home to civilians."

Fugaku paused, then understood. Konoha's leadership had put real thought into the village's layout. If an enemy invaded, clan members living on the outskirts would be the first to resist.

That would give those farther inside time to evacuate and assemble their forces, reducing casualties. The ideals behind Konoha's founding were admirable. But Konoha no longer had a ninja as exceptional as the First Hokage.

The night passed slowly but peacefully. No spies or assassins appeared.

Over the next two days, Fugaku used hypnotic genjutsu on two more civilians. With three civilians steering the conversation, he believed more people would recall the First Hokage's greatness, leading them to speak of the power of Wood Release.

Once the subject came up, it would not die down quickly unless the Konoha leadership forcefully suppressed it.

It was Fugaku's fourth day on Security Force duty. He was assigned to patrol Konoha's southeast corner, Areas Thirteen through Sixteen. The Uchiha District lay in Area Sixteen, so there was no need for him to patrol there.

The ninja patrolling within the district would cover it.

Fugaku and Noki walked along Central Street. The crowds had thinned considerably, and they were about to enter Area Thirteen.

Suddenly, a violent explosion erupted in distant Area Fifteen, near the forest on the outskirts.

It seemed someone had finally grown impatient and made the first move. The Uchiha had maintained heightened security for six months, and no one knew how much longer it would last. Fugaku guessed some infiltrators were nearing their mission deadlines and had no choice but to take a gamble.

"Looks like someone finally couldn't hold back," Fugaku said. Figures were already racing toward the explosion. "Pick up the pace. Let's see how many casualties there are."

If the casualties were not too severe, the Uchiha would face little pressure. After all, although they controlled the Security Force, they had no authority over Konoha Gate.

Registration at the gate had always been handled by members of the Hokage Faction. Guarding it seemed like an unremarkable job, but it gave them a record of every Konoha shinobi entering or leaving the village.

That included every mission undertaken by ANBU and even some Root members. The Konoha leadership would never hand such an important post to the Uchiha.

The Barrier around Konoha's outermost perimeter had likewise always been controlled by Hokage Faction ninja.

The fighting began quickly and ended even faster. The attackers were a group of Sunagakure ninja intent on wreaking havoc inside Konoha, but they had been discovered before they could act.

With war approaching, every nation was sending spies and assassins into its rivals' territory. Spies posing as ordinary people could do relatively limited damage to a village. Spies or assassins who were ninja could cause heavy casualties.

No matter how many members the Uchiha had, a constant stream of foreign assassins would stretch them thin and repeatedly tarnish the Security Force's reputation. The only solution was to stop those ninja before they entered Konoha.

The problem was obvious. Fugaku could not believe the Uchiha and Konoha leadership failed to see it. Yet not a single Hyuga ninja, whose abilities would be especially useful, had been assigned to guard the gate.

Only one person could answer Fugaku's question: his father, Uchiha Tenjo. Over time, Fugaku's opinion of him had risen again and again.

As the Uchiha Clan Leader, his father fell somewhat short in strength, but was more than capable in every other respect. Madara Uchiha had cast such a long shadow that the current leader seemed dim by comparison.

After his night patrol, Fugaku returned home just as his father was about to leave.

"Father," Fugaku said respectfully, "something has been troubling me. I hope you can help me understand it."

Uchiha Tenjo looked momentarily surprised. "Let's talk in the study."

Uchiha Tenjo knew his chances of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan were vanishingly small. At his age, it was almost impossible, so he had placed most of his hopes in his son.

Fortunately, Fugaku had proven himself capable. He was steady by nature and planned before he acted—better in that respect than Tenjo had been at his age.

They entered the study and sat facing each other. Uchiha Tenjo broke the silence first. "What's troubling you? Speak freely."

"It's about the gate," Fugaku said. "Both the Uchiha and the Hyuga are better suited than ordinary ninja to guard it and register arrivals. We'd also be better able to keep spies and assassins out.

"I can't believe the Konoha leadership doesn't see that. Yet they still let people from other nations slip in."

"I'm pleased by how much you've grown." Uchiha Tenjo smiled sincerely. "You connected the gate guards to the assassinations and sabotage inside the village. I'm pleased with how broadly you're thinking, too.

"Then you should also understand that the Uchiha cannot be allowed to track ANBU and Root's movements.

"When the First Hokage and Second Hokage held power, the Uchiha and Hyuga took turns guarding Konoha Gate. Those two clans were best at detecting hidden enemies, so the village itself was relatively peaceful. Most fighting took place outside it.

"After the Second Hokage died, Konoha was left without clear leadership. He had passed the Hokage position to the current Third Hokage, but the Third was young and lacked the support to convince everyone. Many opposed him.

"The Third approached the Uchiha and offered them places in the regular Ninja Corps in exchange for their duty guarding the gate. As for what the Hyuga received, only their current Clan Head knows.

"Once the Third controlled the gate, he joined forces with several of the Second Hokage's other disciples. Using the gate's registration records, they purged elders and clan heads who left the village and had ambitions of their own.

"The killing stopped for a time only after the Third finally became Hokage."